A Wandsworth charity is taking the worry out of the days and weeks after returning home from hospital by providing vital practical support in a new pilot project.
More than 50 people have already been helped by the £25k pilot from the NHS South West London innovation fund, which is running for three months.
Mo Smith MBE, founder and chair of trustees of Regenerate-RISE, developed the scheme RISE+ after spending 20 years working to improve the lives of isolated older people in Wandsworth.
Many people in hospital need practical and friendly support to make the return home run smoothly.”
She said: “Many people in hospital need practical and friendly support to make the return home run smoothly as often their relatives live far away and may have their own families and work commitments and cannot travel immediately.”
RISE+ started on 30 January 2023. The team is working on Dalby, Heberden and Marnham Wards at St George’s Hospital and Mary Seacole Ward at Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Regenerate-RISE director of services, Debbie Thwaites leads the team visiting the wards. She said “We start by getting to know the Wandsworth residents who are nearly ready to leave and also talking to the nurses and occupational therapists to find out what help they might need. When they are on the ward we find out what they like and build up a relationship, so they trust and recognise us. Our team can then ensure everything is in place for their discharge.
“We provide a gift of a dressing gown; a food parcel on arrival home with food they like and an activities kit, along with daily visits to ensure the patient settles at home with everything they need to keep warm and avoid readmission to hospital.”
We prepared a hamper of his favourite food and he has settled back in well.”
The team visits people at home – daily initially. Then, as they recover continue the calls are weekly to keep in touch.
Debbie said the project recently helped a man who could not return home as his bedroom needed clearing ready for a special hospital bed. “We cleared space for the bed and removed trip hazards so it was safe for him and we prepared a hamper of his favourite food and he has settled back in well.”
Volunteers are visiting him regularly and are arranging some decorating as the house had fallen into disrepair when he was ill.
Debbie added: “We give patients a chance to talk about more than their medical needs with a friendly chat.”
The team also gives each person they visit a postcard with their contact details and photos to keep in touch.
It is wonderful to bring health and social care together with our experience and connections in the voluntary sector.”
According to Mo, feedback for the project has positive. “It is brilliant as it is wonderful to bring health and social care together with our experience and connections in the voluntary sector,” she said.
“We can provide help that statutory bodies are unable to, ensuring that all the patients’ practical needs are met – whether that be through the provision of a heater, microwave or shopping.
“This is a completely new, seamless model that we believe has not been undertaken elsewhere. If successful, we would like to roll it out to other hospitals.”
Regenerate-RISE is also developing a reablement centre for older people on discharge from hospital. The Platt Mission in Putney will combine outreach, activities, and intermediate care for older people coming out of hospital.